Iqbal Singh MD

Iqbal (“Dick”) Singh, MD, age 94 of Ooltewah passed away Saturday, October 31, 2020 at his home, surrounded by family. He was born February 23, 1926 in Muzafaagarh, India, (Pakistan) to the late Wazir & Satwant Singh. He became a US Citizen in Los Angeles, CA in 1963.

He attended Glancy Medical College, Punjab University, Amritsar, India from 1943 – 1949 where he received his MD (MBBS).

Dr. Singh served a Surgical Residency at VJ Hospital Punjab University, Amritsar in 1949; and with the Indian Army Medical Corp. various surgical units until September, 1952.

After moving to Chattanooga, Dr. Singh completed a surgical residency at Baroness Erlanger Hospital, with further training at Memorial Hospital from September 1952 to September 1954. He completed his Post Graduate studies and his residency in Orthopedic Surgery from September 1955 to June 1957 at the Graduate School of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

From 1957 – 1970, Dr. Singh practiced orthopedics in Los Angeles, CA.

He fulfilled a long-standing dream of teaching and medical research by joining the newly started Medical College of Ohio at Toledo OH in 1970 as the head of the Orthopedic Surgery program. He developed the Orthopedic Residency program incorporating the Medical College of Ohio Hospital with other regional hospitals and led this program to its approval and full accreditation as a graduate medical program by The American Board Orthopedic Surgery and related certifying bodies. As a research scientist he was published in 1975 in Experimental Cell Research on a new model for generating antibodies to bone cancers (osteosarcomas) which he and colleagues expanded on over several years. This foundational work led to current main-stream treatments for certain types of bone cancers. In 2006 the Medical College (University) of Ohio was merged into its current form as the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences.

Throughout his career, Dr. Singh spent countless hours volunteering his time and services to a variety of causes including scoliosis research and surgical techniques, as well as volunteer work at the Tichenor Clinic for Children in Long Beach, CA which focuses on empowering care and support for children who struggle early in life.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Manilla (Greeson) Singh, PhD; son, James Singh and his wife, Elisabeth, of Hong Kong SAR, China; grandchildren, Alexandra Banner and her husband, Brandon, of Chicago, IL, Christoph Singh of Nairobi, Kenya, and Barbara Singh of New York, NY; and siblings Jagdish Batra and Jasbir Batra of Chandigarh, India; Ajit Batra of Pennsville NJ; Harjit Batra of Sydney, Australia and nieces Shibanie of Lausanne, Switzerland, Rohina of Sydney, Australia, Minnie of La Jolla, CA, Caroline of Monaco, and nephews Monty of Vienna, VA, and Rohitab of Sydney, Australia.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am on Tuesday November 24 at St Stephen Catholic Church at 7111 Lee Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37421, where Iqbal was an active member. Given the current pandemic risks, the family requests that visitors ensure they are in good health, have not been exposed in the past 14 days to Covid-19, wear a face and nose mask and practice social distancing at all times. There will be a private burial ceremony afterward.

Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com.

The family requests that any donations or contributions in his memory be made to Children's Hospital at Erlanger.